Justification for change

CHANGE REQUEST

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT & SABLEFISH FISHERIES:

INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTA (IFQ)

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0272

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE: Inactive quota share (QS) and the associated annual individual fishing quota (IFQ) would be revoked unless the QS holder notifies the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in writing that the QS holder either chooses to continue to retain the inactive QS or appeal the determination to support Final Rule RIN: 0648-AX91 (Proposed Rule was published on August 23, 2010 (75 FR 51741).

NMFS would modify the IFQ Program for the fixed-gear commercial fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in waters in and off Alaska by revoking QS that have been inactive since they were originally issued in 1995. Inactive QS is QS that was never used to harvest halibut or sablefish and never transferred in to or out of a QS account. Inactive QS generates an annual allocation of IFQ. NMFS would revoke inactive QS and the associated annual IFQ unless notified by the QS holder in writing.

Some very small amounts of inactive QS remain in the IFQ Program database. Even though the QS is inactive, NMFS must perform routine administrative tasks to process, monitor, and maintain data on the inactive QS including recordkeeping, regular correspondence with QS holders, and monthly and annual reporting.

Inactive QS exists for a variety of reasons.

♦ Some qualified persons received very small QS allocations because NMFS did not set minimum pounds of halibut or sablefish to be harvested during the respective base periods.

The IFQ poundage derived from small allocations of QS sometimes resulted in fewer pounds than a whole fish.

♦ Some persons holding inactive QS are no longer in the commercial fishing industry, are deceased, or have decided that their inactive QS is not worth transferring.

NMFS would notify each holder of inactive QS by certified mail and provide the person holding the inactive QS 60 days to respond in writing clearly describing their interest in the inactive QS. A person who holds inactive QS would have three options

♦ Do nothing, thereby allowing the inactive QS to be revoked;

♦ Request in writing that the inactive QS not be revoked; or

♦ Present evidence to NMFS that the QS is active.

NMFS estimates that one half of those still holding inactive QS, or 132 persons, would submit a letter. Public reporting burden for a one-time letter is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, $ 0.44 cost to mail each response, and $ 0.05 to copy each response.

This action would add 132 responses, 33 hours and $64.45 to the OMB 0648-0272 collection-of-information:

130 x 15 minutes = 32.5 hr for halibut + 2 x 15 minutes = 30 minutes for sablefish: 33 hours.

130 x 0.49 = $ 63.47 for halibut + 2 x 0.49 = $ 0.98 for sablefish = $64.68 ($65).

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